Garage Public House is more gastropub than sports bar, thanks to a menu loaded with from-scratch comfort food and above-average bar fare. The cozy atmosphere, drink offerings and glorious string of flat-screen televisions mean there’s something for everyone at this Ahwatukee hideaway.

Scene: The functional garage doors installed at the front set the atmosphere. A red, black and gray color scheme, cushy padded booths and faux antique-quality gas-station decor reflect a hybrid of auto-garage chic and old-school diner. Booth seating features an ingrained leather-like finish, representing what you’d see in a vintage American muscle car.

The huge bar is the focal point, with booths and tables surrounding it. A few tables are sectioned off for those who want less of the bar vibe. A large patio faces the parking lot.

Food: The bulk of the sizable menu features burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, a lineup of starters and a few entrees. Come famished to tackle abundant portions or take home leftovers.

We started with the panko zucchini ($6), hand-cut slices of fresh zucchini rolled in panko breadcrumbs and fried to a golden brown. They tasted delicious and almost guilt-free. The zucchini’s forest-green skin was visible and each piece retained its juicy and sweet bite. Dipping options included a basic ranch and a house sauce similar to a creamy Buffalo sauce.

When you visit a place that prides itself on freshly ground, 100 percent Angus beef burgers, there’s little mystery as to what must end up on your plate. We tried a couple of versions.

The Truck Stop burger ($11) is a half-pound patty buried beneath bacon, a fried egg, three cheeses and a slathering of Tabasco aioli. This dish is a succulent indulgence that any burger fan would be foolish to turn down. The aioli provided a hint of heat, and although the egg and melted cheese looked destined to be a sloppy mess, it held together nicely.

The jury is still out on the Angus sliders ($9). Our order included perfectly cooked and clearly overcooked sliders. The Callahan bun was soft yet sturdy, but there was obviously a quality-control issue.

On the flip side, the Firebird Chicken Sliders ($9) were flawless. A pile of sliced chicken lovingly smothered in the house Buffalo sauce packed just the right amount of heat and tang. The blue cheese slaw added sweet, savory and crunch. The challah bun held up as well. Most attempts to squeeze a full-size burger experience into a slider package would have failed. This didn’t. Amazing and a must-order.

Six pieces of fresh cod dipped in Garage’s signature Pacifico pilsner batter lived up to the hype in the Pacifico fish and chips ($11). The airy batter allowed the tender cod to take the spotlight, while the delicate crunch made this dish lighter than other versions. An ample side of slaw was simple, fresh and properly seasoned, not drippy at all. When it comes to fish-and-chips condiments, I’m more of a malt-vinegar fan. But I made an exception with one taste of the housemade tartar sauce. I tasted a pinch of celery salt or bay seasoning, which elevated this beyond mayo-and-relish goop.

We sampled all three french-fry versions. The waffle fries were thick and seasoned well. The sweet-potato fries were crispy on the exterior and soft in the inside. But the regular fries stole the show. These were more like French bistro-style frites, crispy and firm. These little matchsticks were anything but run-of-mill.

Dessert: Having something called Liquid Cheesecake ($7) on a menu ups the intrigue factor. This one got points for ambition, but the execution fell short. Housemade whipped cheesecake filling was haphazardly spooned onto one of three cinnamon crisps that resembled deflated sopapillas. The cheesecake was supposedly garnished with graham-cracker crumbs, but it also was topped with what looked like a vanilla wafer cookie and a light chocolate-syrup drizzle. Strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream made it into the hodgepodge, adding confusion. It didn’t take long for the cinnamon crisp that held the cheesecake to become soggy.

Drinks: Soft drinks, tea, a variety of draft beers and a full bar are available.

Lowdown: Garage Public House deserves applause for its elevated take on pub grub. Any spot that embraces the challenge of serving classed-up fare with Ultimate Fighting in the background is worth checking out.

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